Cardinals' Off-Season Plan V. 2.0

[Mitch]

QB:

Palmer, Dysert and Jerod Evans (6-3, 235, Virginia Tech)

RB:

Johnson, Alvin Kamara (5-11, 212, Tennessee), K. Williams, Penny

WR:

Fitzgerald, Corey Davis (6-3, 213, Western Michigan), Nelson, John Brown, Jaron Brown

TE:

Gresham, Fells, Valles

T:

Veldheer, Humphries, Wetzel

G:

Iupati, T.J. Lang (UFA-GB), Toner

C:

Boehm, Boggs

NT:

Peters, X. Williams

DE:

Campbell, Mauro, Gunter, Nkemdiche, Rucker (or Pierre)

ILB:

Bucannon, Moore, Keith Kelsey (6-1, 240, Louisville), Fua (or Wright)

OLB:

Golden, Jones, T.J. Watt (6-5, 243, Wisconsin), Trey Hendrickson (6-4, 270, Florida Atlantic)

CB:

Peterson, Prince Amukamara (UFA-JAX), Bethel, B. Williams, Miller (or Bouka)

S:

Mathieu, Jeff Heath (UFA-DAL), Swearinger, Jonathan Ford (5-11, 203, Auburn)

ST:

Catanzaro, Wile, Brewer

Draft:

Trade down from #13 to add another 3rd rounder:

1. WR Davis
2. OLB Watt
3. QB Evans
3. RB Kamara
4. OLB Hendrickson
5. ILB Kelsey
5. S Ford

UFA Signings:

G Lang (3/$21M)
TE Gresham (3/$13M)
DE Campbell (3/$30M+ incentives)
DE Rucker (1/$1.5M)
LB Moore (2/$3M + incentives)
OLB/DE Jones (5/$80M)
CB Amukamara (2/$9M)
FS Heath (3/$12M)
S Swearinger (2/$8M)

UFA Signings Cap Hit: $50.7M

Cap Savings (Washington, Branch, Stanton, Niklas, Martin, Stinson): $11.9M

Cap Spending: $38.8M

 

[overseascardfan]

I like it all except for Amukamara. Last offseason I was all for bringing him in but didn't he have a down year in JAX last year? I would take Lattimore at #13 and nab a WR like Zay Jones in Round 4 but keep the rest of your draft and FA signings Mitch.

 

[TheCardFan]

QB:

Palmer, Dysert and Jerod Evans (6-3, 235, Virginia Tech)


LB Moore (2/$3M + incentives)

S Swearinger (2/$8M)

Nice job Mitch.

I would love to see Stanton gone next year but BA is so damn loyal and resistant to change that I don't see it happening (see Bulter and Amos).

I think Sio Moore and Swearinger are important pieces to bring back but I think DJ is going to get a lot more money than that and more years.

Still don't understand the love for Gresham. He is a mediocre blocker that gives good effort but is a non factor in the passing game (made a few plays this year). I would say those skills are easily replaceable and we can spend those dollars on bigger areas of need.

I would say Cooper is more of a need than Gresham. Even if we draft a CB high, I would take Cooper over Williams or Bethel (for the right price).

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I think DJ is going to get a lot more money than that and more years.

From who ?

Swearinger came in as a practice squad player. If someone wants to pay more than $4million a year for Swearinger then let him walk, and bring in another safety.

Same goes for Jefferson in my book, if he is look for the 6.5mil+ per season that the rumors say, then good luck to him.

There are a few comparable safeties that will be available in free agency, so neither are critical, IMHO.

 

[cardpa]

From who ?

Swearinger came in as a practice squad player. If someone wants to pay more than $4million a year for Swearinger then let him walk, and bring in another safety.

Same goes for Jefferson in my book, if he is look for the 6.5mil+ per season that the rumors say, then good luck to him.

There are a few comparable safeties that will be available in free agency, so neither are critical, IMHO.

You can't bring back Jefferson, Swearinger and also have Mathieu. They are all Strong safeties. The team really needs a FS.

 

[WildBB]

Like it. Don't know how sharp Evans is upstairs. That'll be a big determination on who they decide on who to develop at the position. They got burned on Thomas. Heath I don't know much about, but they need to upgrade FS, Mathieu doesn't belong there, imo. He's better in the slot.

 

[Buckybird]

Good job Mitch!

Gimme Morris Claiborne all day over Prince & I'm in!

 

[b8rtm8nn]

Two complaints - do not like Boggs - injury prone, bad risk. I would rather re-sign Shipley and have Boehm win the job.

Don't like Amukamara, think you can do much better than that.

And , honestly, I don't think Valles will make the final roster unless someone gets injured (but maybe you penciled in Niklas as the injury). He is athletic, but not very good at football. Maybe he improves a bit this offseason and in camp; but to put him on the roster now? He hasn't earned it.

 

[splitsecond]

I honestly don't know if I can do better than this. This is some seriously good work, Mitch.

 

[Mitch]

I like it all except for Amukamara. Last offseason I was all for bringing him in but didn't he have a down year in JAX last year? I would take Lattimore at #13 and nab a WR like Zay Jones in Round 4 but keep the rest of your draft and FA signings Mitch.

overseas---the Jags coaches said they were very pleased with Amukamara. Maybe I am wrong, but the way i figure it, we need a veteran at CB #2 until the youth (Williams, Miller and Bouka) comes of age. We spend 2 draft picks (3rd and 6th) on CBs last year and now we turn right around and use a 1st on a CB?

That said, I certainly like Lattimore---and the CB in this draft I like best is **** Tabor. I think Tabor is capable of starting day one because he is already skilled in press coverage.

 

[iRobot]

If anyone is curious: https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-2017-free-agency-tracker/

 

[Mitch]

Nice job Mitch.

I would love to see Stanton gone next year but BA is so damn loyal and resistant to change that I don't see it happening (see Bulter and Amos).

I think Sio Moore and Swearinger are important pieces to bring back but I think DJ is going to get a lot more money than that and more years.

Still don't understand the love for Gresham. He is a mediocre blocker that gives good effort but is a non factor in the passing game (made a few plays this year). I would say those skills are easily replaceable and we can spend those dollars on bigger areas of need.

I would say Cooper is more of a need than Gresham. Even if we draft a CB high, I would take Cooper over Williams or Bethel (for the right price).

TCF---the one scenario where we could see BA put Stanton on the trading block is if the Cardinals make a run for Mike Glennon. If they added Glennon, there would be no point of keeping Stanton as the #2. I think the Cardinals' interest in Glennon is legit, so it should be interesting to see if they can convince him to learn the offense for a year under Carson Palmer.

I hope you are wrong about Swearinger. $4M a year would seem like quote a handsome raise. I could be wrong, but I also think that this year's safety crop in the draft is very deep and talented, which could drive the FA demand down.

Sio Moore won me over. No ILB we've has in the last 4 years played Russell Wilson's read option better, and I thought Moore attacked the football very well.

As for Gresham, I like that he got himself into beast mode this year---save the two stupid penalties. His offensive production the second half of the year was good. He sacrificed a lot to stay in AZ. I'm fine with rewarding him. I think he's earned it. That would send a very positive message to the team and to one-year prove it FAs in the future.

I must be in the minority, but I was not all that impressed with Marcus Cooper. I thought he was wildly inconsistent. He's not a press CB because he lacks recovery speed, and as an "off" CB he plays too far off. he does have a nose for the ball, which is good. I still am flabbergasted that he is a Pro Bowl alternate. But, BA has said they like him a lot and want to re-sign him, so chances are he will stick, if he settle for the right price, as you suggest.

 

[Mitch]

From who ?

Swearinger came in as a practice squad player. If someone wants to pay more than $4million a year for Swearinger then let him walk, and bring in another safety.

Same goes for Jefferson in my book, if he is look for the 6.5mil+ per season that the rumors say, then good luck to him.

There are a few comparable safeties that will be available in free agency, so neither are critical, IMHO.

I agree with you, RM---and I think it pretty clear that the way we play our SS in AZ, that's a position that makes for stardom, as they are used aggressively in blitzes (both run and pass). Jamal Adams would be an instant Pro Bowler at SS in AZ.

 

[Mitch]

Two complaints - do not like Boggs - injury prone, bad risk. I would rather re-sign Shipley and have Boehm win the job.

Don't like Amukamara, think you can do much better than that.

And , honestly, I don't think Valles will make the final roster unless someone gets injured (but maybe you penciled in Niklas as the injury). He is athletic, but not very good at football. Maybe he improves a bit this offseason and in camp; but to put him on the roster now? He hasn't earned it.

I think you are absolutely right about Boggs and Shipley, b8rt. I just have a sneaking suspicion that Shipley will get a deal like Ted Larsen got and go elsewhere. Boehm should be the starter, regardless.

 

[Mitch]

I honestly don't know if I can do better than this. This is some seriously good work, Mitch.

Thanks, splitsecond. The funny thing is---here I thought I had come up with a mock draft full of value picks and just as soon as I posted this thread, I read Daniel Jeremiah's (NFL Network) brand new first round mock and I shig you not, he has Corey Davis, T.J. Watt and Alvin Kamara going in the 1st round. Dang! I had yet to see Watt or Kamara in anyone's 1st round mock.

Looks like i might have to go back to the drawing board.

 

[sr7706]

Trade down from #13 to add another 3rd rounder:

1. WR Davis
2. OLB Watt
3. QB Evans
3. RB Kamara
4. OLB Hendrickson
5. ILB Kelsey
5. S Ford

I don't think we are going to have a shot at all 3 of Davis who is 8th on NFL.com top 50 rookie board, Kamara is 26th, and Watt is 34th. Will be interesting to see if they plan on drafting a guy who can play next year or are they going to cont. down the path of basically redshirting their round 1 pick again...

 

[Mitch]

I don't think we are going to have a shot at all 3 of Davis who is 8th on NFL.com top 50 rookie board, Kamara is 26th, and Watt is 34th. Will be interesting to see if they plan on drafting a guy who can play next year or are they going to cont. down the path of basically redshirting their round 1 pick again...

I didn't realize that Kamara is now rated so high. Dang.

 

[PJ1]

If the Cards could pull this off we would be a serious contender. Blueprint for a big year. Don't believe CC will be back though.

 

[TheCardFan]

I think the Cardinals' interest in Glennon is legit, so it should be interesting to see if they can convince him to learn the offense for a year under Carson Palmer.

I hope you are wrong about Swearinger. $4M a year would seem like quote a handsome raise. I could be wrong, but I also think that this year's safety crop in the draft is very deep and talented, which could drive the FA demand down.

I hope your right on Glennon. He isn't elite but he can be a quality starter (especially with DJ) and a bridge to a QBOF.

I should clarify that I feel Swearinger will get a much bigger contract (total value) due to the years (thinking 4 years). I have no idea on the avg per year.

 

[sr7706]

TCF---the one scenario where we could see BA put Stanton on the trading block is if the Cardinals make a run for Mike Glennon. If they added Glennon, there would be no point of keeping Stanton as the #2. I think the Cardinals' interest in Glennon is legit, so it should be interesting to see if they can convince him to learn the offense for a year under Carson Palmer.

Mitch, the interest from the Cardinals might be legit, but I do not see Glennon wanting to be the backup for an entire season anywhere. If he went to CHI or NYJ he would be the immediate starter. Plus how would the contract work? Pay him as a backup the first year and pay him as a starter the following years? Are we going to pay him, 10-15 million for the first season to ride the bench? Can you imagine if Carson struggles to start the year, that could get ugly. I fear the timing is just not right for this to happen unfortunately.

 

[Mitch]

Mitch, the interest from the Cardinals might be legit, but I do not see Glennon wanting to be the backup for an entire season anywhere. If he went to CHI or NYJ he would be the immediate starter. Plus how would the contract work? Pay him as a backup the first year and pay him as a starter the following years? Are we going to pay him, 10-15 million for the first season to ride the bench? Can you imagine if Carson struggles to start the year, that could get ugly. I fear the timing is just not right for this to happen unfortunately.

Good points. The Keim connection with NC State could be a factor---but I am guessing that after Houston's Osweiler deal, young, unproven 5th year QBs like Glennon may not get the big payday in Chicago or New York. It's possible that wherever he signs he will have to take a deal chock-full of incentives, roster bonuses and escalator clauses...which could give the Cardinals a reasonable chance.

 

[DVontel]

If the Cards could pull this off we would be a serious contender. Blueprint for a big year. Don't believe CC will be back though.

If CC leaves then we won't be a serious contender.

 

[Shaggy]

If CC leaves then we won't be a serious contender.

Bingo. I also think they will try hard to keep Jefferson this year. I think they realized how bad the communication on the D was in the first part of the season when they let Johnson and Powers walk. I don't think they will want to go through that again and they would if they let Jefferson walk.

 

[Shaggy]

If anyone is curious: https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-2017-free-agency-tracker/

Wow! There are a total of 23 FAs and 19/20 of those are starters!! Wow, Kiem has some work cut out for him.

 

[cardncubfan]

I would prefer Trumaine J over Prince A. Do you think that Cooper could play FS since he sucks at press coverage?